Anna Blake One year ago, my friends were expecting a litter of Swedish Vallhund puppies. After gaining titles in conformation and performance, doing all the genetic testing, and endless preparation, it was finally time. I’d cheered for my friends all the way and was excited about the little ones, who already had puppy homes waiting. One year … Read more
May I brag? I have celebrated the death of embarrassment. It was a freedom I gained by competing horses. Horses are transparent and spontaneous about how they feel. When something happens, it’s obvious to the rider. And some of us even paid the judge to notice. It’s the fast track to realizing you can’t make … Read more
We have received a complaint from a cat in England. Rita says she reckons you cannot trust a woman who writes about dogs, with hardly a mention of cats. That tortoiseshell cat has been a critic for years. Rita does it because she wants more from life than sleeping in the sun. I met her … Read more
It’s a sight to see. Usually, a huge bearded man and a tiny Chihuahua. Sometimes a blue-haired lady and a miniature poodle with pastel bows on her ears. They’re both holding their dog like a baby cradled in their arms. I’m not gonna repeat the inhospitable thoughts I have had about that sort of person … Read more
This week I went to dinner at a sports bar. I’m not the type, but there are no fine dining choices unless we drive into town. Two of the big screens had rodeo on them. There was a rope horse who got some rough handling when he refused to back into the box. The horse … Read more
I have kept this blog free of politics because I want a place we can come together, beyond social media and the news cycle. I am also a proud American who can no longer stand by. We need more than ‘thoughts and prayers.’ Surely it is time that we all stand together, regardless of personal politics, … Read more
Just a reminder, dear reader. I’m a horse trainer using all I know to raise a puppy. If your horse’s trainer uses methods that would be bad for a dog, please reconsider. It gets worse. I’m a horse trainer who believes we should train donkeys as a prerequisite to horses. Donkeys demand special skills that … Read more
Jolene says, hurry up, would ya? I am not dawdling. I’m getting my hearing aids, looking for my outside glasses and the remote mic. It’s Thursday. She has her harness on, and that means something. I’ll tell you what that harness means to me. It’s her eighth harness and the most expensive one. Also, the … Read more
Last week I raved about my beautiful but desolate riding arena at the front of my little farm. My other favorite place is the pond at the very back of my farm. Waterfront property on the high desert prairie of Colorado was a major selling point when I chose this dilapidated farm. It’s fed by … Read more
Ten days after solstice and it’s already staying light longer. Want to wish me a happy one-year-older? On January first, horses become one year older, regardless of their actual birthdate. Breed organizations do it for ease of record keeping, and I doubt the horses notice. As proud gray mare, that means I am a year … Read more